[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
International and Regional Perspectives
Syria`s Nusayri Side and Iran Pinar Arikan writes that “currently, Iran`s strategic concerns are more important than its religious concerns in its Syrian policy.”
Why No Safe Zone in Syria, Yet? 5 Complications
The Egyptian Initiative: Banking on Syrian Fatigue Bisan Kassab on Egypt’s plan to create a contact group that would include itself, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Syria, Lebanon and the Roots of Sectarianization Michael Degerald on the history of colonialism and secularization, which he believes account for much of the current sectarian tensions.
Pas D`intervention ! Former French General Jean Fleury argues that if his country were to intervene in Syria, it would not be a glorious move to celebrate because France would highly rely on Washington’s orders.
Can Lakhdar Brahimi Save Syria? Nassif Hitti on the challenges awaiting the new UN envoy to Syria.
Damascus’ Middle-Way Solution Kayhan Barzegar says “Although Iran prefers to have the Asad’s regime intact, it is likely to accept any possible changes in the process of political transition.”
Syrian Narratives
Manaf Tlass Breaks His Silence on Syria David Ignatius meets with Manaf Tlass who says “he does not want any position in a future government and is focused only on his `road map` for avoiding sectarian strife.”
Alternative Voices Zeina Bali on the emergence of underground publications.
Concrete Proposals for Democratic Transition: Syrian Opposition Presents Vision for Day After Assad
David Crossland says the vision of a democratic transition in Syria presented by Syrian opposition members in Berlin looks “utopian.”
The Day After. Supporting a Democratic Transition in Syria The utopian report in question that was written by The Day After, "an independent Syrian NGO."
Syria Defections Expose Sectarian Agenda Karl Sharro suggests “the controls that the Syrian regime had employed to overcome confessional divisions within Syrian society, and within its ranks, have finally collapsed.”
The Myth of Partition Unpacking the myth that Alawites will attempt to create an independent state.
The Point of No Return Martin Chulov says “whatever its outcome,” the crisis in Syria “is a civil war being fought on a faultline that threatens the entire Middle East.”
Writing, Revolution, and Change in Syria: An Interview with Nihad Sirees
The Balkanisation of Syria: Myth or Reality?
My Family`s Dilemma over Syria Sharif Nashashibi offers a personal testimony of the family tensions that arise over the Syria conflict.
Three Wars for the Price of One Simon Allison distinguishes between genuine popular dissent and geopolitics.
Syria, a Decade of Lost Chances Carsten Wieland on the Assad regime’s political misjudgments in the last ten years.
BBC Censors Video Showing Dark Side of Syrian Rebels Prisoner of a rebel group forced to accomplish a suicide bombing mission.
Imperialism and the Left
Britain and US Plan Syrian "Revolution" from Istanbul Damien Mcelroy says Syrian opposition activists are “receiving training and supplies of vital equipment from a combined American and British effort to forge an effective alternative to the Damascus regime.
Inside Syria
Inside Daraya - How a Failed Prisoner Swap Turned into a Massacre Robert Fisk provides an alternative account on the events that transpired in a town near Damascus.
The Bloody Truth about Syria`s Uncivil War Robert Fisk challenges the main narratives of events in centers of the uprising.
Aleppo`s Poor Get Caught in the Crossfire of Syria`s Civil War Robert Fisk meets a Syrian-Kurdish family in an Aleppo park.
On the Edge Alma Hassoun takes the pulse of Damascenes who “are not spectators anymore” and are living the events that they used to witness on their TV screens.
New Forms of Farewell Razan Rashidi on the new dimensions of saying goodbye to loved ones in Syria.
Terror and After Carole al Farah’s photo essay on the lives of Syrians who survived three major bombings.
In Syria, Islamic Militants May Complicate Uprising on extrajudicial killings conducted by anti-government forces.
Syria’s Turkmen Join the Fight Marah Mashi on Turkmen villages becoming engulfed in the crisis and the emergence of ethnic tensions.
Art and Social Media
Life in Syria as Illustrated by George Butler: In Pictures
Growing Syria Cyber War: Who is Winning Marianne Barriaux looks at the use of social media by both the pro and anti-government as a tool of war.
What War in Syria Looks Like Photo gallery by Adam Dean
Policy and Reports
Syrian Christians in the Dilemma of Chaos and Authoritarianism An overview of the Syrian communities in Syria and quick glance at some of their positions during the uprising.
Syria: Joint Rapid Food Security Needs Assessment United-Nations’s Food and Agricultural Organization issues this report.
Syrians are torn between a despotic regime and a stagnant opposition Hassan Hassan says “the Muslim Brotherhood’s perceived monopoly over the Syrian national council created an opposition stalemate.”
From Resilience to Revolt: Making Sense of the Arab Spring Report issued by the Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) of the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice on 21 June 2012.
Arabic
جرمانا و أخواتها السوريات
Fayez Sarrah presents narratives from the Syrian city of Jaramana about the protests it has witnessed against the regime and the support it has provided to the revolution in Syria.
أطفـال سـوريا أزمتـها المقـبلـة: مـن يمحـو مـا يحفـره العـنـف؟
Tarek Al Abed writes about the effect of the current brutal and militarized situation in Syria on its children.
الاستقطاب الطائفي المسكوت عنه
Abed Al-Bari Atwan writes about the polarization of sectarianism and the dangers it presents to the Arab states and societies.
لا تدخل عسكرياً أوروبياً في سوريا…«لأننا عاجزون»
Mohammed Balloot writes about the European nations’ excuse for not intervening militarily in Syria.
محاولات ذكورية لاستغلال معاناة الفتيات السوريات
Abeer Saras writes about the sexist occurrences of Arab men, who are proposing to marry Syrian refugee women, using the excuse of protecting and relieving them from their struggles and hardships.
حدائق دير الزور تتحول إلى مقابر
Nashwan Marzouk recounts stories about the current situation in the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor and its many public gardens that have turned into cemeteries.
“بركان دمشق”: مشاهدات من قلب الحدث
The Damascus Bureau provides an eyewitness story about the brutal situation in the Damascus Reef.
نص لقاء هيثم مناع على قناة الميادين
The National Coordination Committee for the Forces of Democratic Change provides the text of Haytham Mannaa’s interview on Al-Mayadeen Channel.
الوضع السورى .. المعقد
Salama Kayla provides his analysis of the current “complicated” Syrian situation.
ضرورة نقد الثورة من ضرورة التغيير الثوري
Ammar Dyoub writes about the importance of criticizing revolutions in order to reach revolutionary change.
الحوار لا المقتلة!
Saad Allah Mezraani criticizes both the regime and the opposition for their increase in the brutalization of the situation in the country and their complete rejection of national dialogue in order to reach a settlement.
الربيع الحقيقي... تجديد حركة التحرر الوطني
Nahed Heter write about the Arab uprisings and questions whether they have achieved true change of the political systems in the Arab world.
سوريا: الدم المسفوك لا يحتمل مزايدات الساسة
Alaa Allamy writes about the problem of attacking people based on their critical view regarding the armed opposition in Syria.
إلا اتفاق الطائف!
Mohammad Dibo worries that Al-Ibrahimi’s mission in Syria would lead to another Taif Agreement.
دبلوماسي هولندي: النظام السوري سفينة غارقة
This is an interview with Dutch Diplomat and Academic, Dr. Nikolaos Van Dam, about the
situation in Syria.
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